The “Severna Brigada,” which has been designated a terrorist organization, is suspected of renewing its threats to kill institutional officials in Kosovo. The Kosovo Police has registered the case as a criminal offense of terrorism and launched an investigation.
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A report by the Kosovo Police states that the threatening messages were published on social media and are suspected of having been disseminated by the self-proclaimed “Severna Brigada.” The case was registered on July 28 and is being handled by the responsible units of the Kosovo Police.
The Government of Kosovo designated this organization as terrorist on June 29, 2023, at the same time as the “Civil Protection,” because of activities considered a threat to the country’s constitutional order and security.
The reappearance of these messages online has increased concerns about the activities of extremist structures and the security risks that Kosovo’s institutions continue to face.
One of the main questions raised is whether this is merely virtual pressure or whether the threats demonstrate that these structures still have the capacity to influence stability and the security climate in the country.
It also remains to be assessed whether the measures taken so far by the security institutions have been sufficient and whether preventing such incidents requires greater cooperation between local and international actors.
Security expert Arben Dashevci and security professor and retired general Muhamet Racaj gave their assessments of these developments to the newspaper “Bota sot.”
Dashevci: The organization remains a threat to national security
Expert Arben Dashevci says the latest threats do not constitute a new phenomenon. According to him, the “Severna Brigada” has acted in the past and continues to pose a risk to Kosovo’s security.
He places this organization in the same context as the so-called “Civil Protection” structure, emphasizing that both have been suspected of terrorist activities and destabilizing efforts.
“Yes, the terrorist organization ‘Severna Brigada’ has once again published death threats against institutional officials in Kosovo, after having done so repeatedly in the past. This organization and the so-called ‘Civil Protection’ directly endangered the national security of our country in 2023,” Dashevci told “Bota sot.”
According to the expert, the aim of these structures has been to spread fear and insecurity through threats, attacks and other forms of pressure.
“They are suspected of terrorist criminal offenses because their aim has been to sow panic, issue threats, carry out terrorist attacks, as in the case of Banjska, and engage in blackmail and sabotage. Their publications on social media raise concerns about institutional security and the impact of such groups on the country’s stability,” he emphasizes.
Dashevci says Kosovo’s authorities are treating these cases seriously and have demonstrated readiness, but warns that the threat from extremist groups has not disappeared.
“The continuation of threats from the ‘Severna Brigada’ shows that Kosovo’s institutions still face serious challenges from extremist groups, but there is maximum vigilance. Our security institutions are highly effective, and the measures taken so far to prevent such actions have been treated with the utmost seriousness,” he says.
He considers these developments part of a hybrid war being waged against Kosovo.
“These threats to the security of officials and to the political climate in Kosovo are part of a fierce hybrid war. In my assessment, they are directed by Serbia. These structures are not located in the territory of the Republic of Kosovo, but operate from outside and issue threats freely from their base in Serbia,” Dashevci declares.
According to him, addressing this risk requires closer coordination with international allies.
“A coordinated response is needed between our security institutions and international partners from the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, always as a preventive measure to avoid an escalation of the situation,” he concludes.
Racaj: Attacks on institutions undermine the functioning of the state
Security professor and retired general Muhamet Racaj believes that the return of the threats cannot be considered merely an isolated episode.
He argues that this may be a sign that the extremist structures operating in northern Kosovo have not been completely dismantled and may be using different means to continue their activities.
“The return of threats from the terrorist organization ‘Severna Brigada’ should not be viewed as an isolated incident or merely as a virtual threat on social media. On the contrary, it is a serious indicator that the extremist structures operating in northern Kosovo have not been fully dismantled,” Racaj told “Bota sot.”
Racaj stresses that threats against the highest levels of the institutions affect not only the people holding those positions, but the constitutional order itself.
“When the President, the Prime Minister, the Speaker of the Assembly or other state institutions become the targets of threats, we are not dealing with threats against individuals, but against the normal functioning of the state,” he says.
According to the retired general, events in recent years have demonstrated that organized criminal and terrorist structures have existed in northern Kosovo.
“The events in Banjska, the attacks on the Kosovo Police, the attacks on KFOR personnel and organized criminal activities show that these structures possessed organization, financing and logistical support. For this reason, every new threat must be treated with the utmost seriousness,” he emphasizes.
He acknowledges that the security institutions have made progress in confronting these groups, but stresses that the fight against extremism requires uninterrupted efforts.
“The Kosovo Police, the Kosovo Intelligence Agency, the Special Prosecution and other security institutions have made significant progress in striking criminal and terrorist groups. Nevertheless, the fact that the ‘Severna Brigada’ continues to reappear shows that the fight against extremism is not over,” Racaj declares.
According to him, the threatening messages aim to create psychological insecurity, influence institutional decision-making and weaken citizens’ trust in the state.
“These threats directly affect the security of state officials and the political climate in the country. They aim to create psychological insecurity, exert pressure on institutional decision-making and undermine citizens’ confidence in the state’s ability to guarantee security,” he says.
Racaj calls for stronger cooperation between local institutions and foreign partners to respond to these risks.
“The Kosovo Police, the KIA, the Special Prosecution, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Kosovo Security Force, KFOR and international partners must exchange information in real time, identify the sources of financing and command of these groups, and take preventive measures,” he concludes for “Bota sot.”
